Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Data Darbar, Data Gunj Bakhsh.

Hazrat Syed Ali bin Usman Hajweri, RA, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh ( Bestower of Spiritual Treasures ) or in common langauage; simply - Data Darbar Lahore, belonged to a place called Hajwer in the town of Ghazni, Afghanistan. He lived during the 5th century AH ( 11th century AD ), and was well versed in all the Islamic sciences such as Tafsir; ( exegesis ) of the Holy Qur'an, Hadith; ( Traditions of the Prophet ), Fiqh; ( Muslim Law ) and dogmatic theology; ( Ilmu Kalam ). Al Hajweri's spiritual lineage traces back to Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi, RA, through the three intermediaries al-Husri, an-Nasrabi and Shibli.

In the course of his spiritual journey to God, he journeyed physically to many countries, often alone and with hardship. These places included Turkestan, Transoxania, Iran, Iraq, and Syria where he met innumerable Sufi sheikhs, many of whom he has mentioned in his book 'Kashf ul Mahjoob'. He came to Lahore in the later part of his life for the specific purpose of Tablegh ( preaching and teaching ) Islam, converting large numbers of people into Muslim Ummah. He passed away in Lahore in 469 AH (1077 AD), where his Muquam currently stands, is visited by people of all walks of life, from far and near.

Dargah Sharif Data Ganj Bakhsh, RA: The mausoleum of the great mystic saint Abu Hasan Ali Hajweri is situated near Bha'tee Gate, one of the gates of the walled city of Lahore, Pakistan. The Ghaznavi king Sultan Zakiruddin Ibrahim built his mausoleum. Day and night devotees come in large numbers to pay homage to the saint. On Thursdays, groups of musicians sing the mystic song 'Qawali' and the dervaishe of the saint dance the mystic 'Dhamal'.

He was the proud author of 'Kashaf ul Mahjoob', a beautiful book on Islamic mysticism.